Snowshoe harness



Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SNOWSHOE HARNESS Edward J. Balcomb, Stambaugh, Mich.

Application January 13, 1944, Serial No. 518,043 7 (01. 36-45) .12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in snowshoe harness.

It is a primary, object of the invention to provide novel, safe and improved means for 'removably securing asnowshoe to the wearers foot in such a manner as to relieve the foot of all constricting pressure, to leave the foot full flexibility of movement respecting the snowshoe, and to provide for the instant disengagement of the snowshoe in the event of emergency.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon analysis of the following disclosure of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a snowshoe with my improved harness or binding applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the harness or binding in section, portions of the snowshoe also being illustrated in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the harness in perspective.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail in plan showing the connection of the harness with the shoe.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Application of a harness or binding to a snowshoe is complicated by the fact that it must be secured to a portion of the shoe which does not have inherent rigidity. It is desirable that the connection of the wearers foot to the shoe should be secure against relative movement in ,some directions, but should have complete flexibility to permit .the wearers foot to tilt in walking. The present" invention not only provides for such complete flexibility but does so in a way which does not constrict free blood circulation in the foot and, moreover, permits the natural tilting movement of the foot to be used to promote better traction.

The snowshoe is of conventional design including a frame 5 laced with rawhide thongs at 6, I and 8. The rear anchorage of the thongs into area 8 is provided by a cross brace 9. The forward anchorage of the thongs in the area 6 is provided by a heavy transversely extending multi-ply rawhide strap at H). Between the strap and the cross brace B is an opening II.

All of the foregoing is conventional in snow-. shoes.

Instead of using any strap which crosses the toe of the wearers boot or shoe, I provide at l a skeletonized toe-receiving basket or pocket comprising a fulcrum rod l6 which passes beneath the ball of the users foot and to the ends of which the arcuate wire I! is connected to make a D-shaped frame large enough to receive the boot or shoe without constriction.

The general position of the frame comprising members I6 and I1 is in a vertical plane. To this frame is connected another generally snowshoe is effected as follows:

arcuate wire at l8 in a substantially horizontal plane, preferably slightly above the level of the fulcrum rod l6. Strut wires I9, 20, 2| connect the fulcrum rod 6 with the centra1 portion 22 of the horizontal frame member l8. This por-. tion 22 of the arcuate frame member is spanned by a vertical arch 23 from which the arcuately formed top frame members 24, 25 extend to the upper central portion of the arcuate frame member 11. Other arcuate frame members 26, 21, 28, 29 complete the enclosure by extending at intervals between member l1 and member 18. While not at all essential to the invention, all parts of the wire or rods used in the manufacture of the basket or pocket may be wound with rawhide, or otherwise covered, the rawhide binding being represented at 30.

The form of the member I8 is such that one side of it is almost straight, most of the curvature being in the other side. Thus this device is made in rightsand lefts in general conformity with the shape of the toe portion of the wearers boot or shoe. Thus, it is the sole, rather than the upper of the wearers boot or shoe, which engages the cage or pocket to position the wearer's boot or shoe on the snowshoe. The connection of the cage or pocket to the The pintle rod I6 is provided, preferably throughout all exposed portions of its length, with sleeves 32, 33, 34, 35 in which it has oscillatory bearing. These sleeves are then lashed by means of ra-Whidethongs 36 in a figure 8, to the cross strap Ill of the snowshoe. Since the sleeves are thus securely heldagainst either vertical or lateral displacement with respect to the snowshoe, and are incapable'of relative axial movement along the pintle rod IS, the boot receiving cage cannot move either vertically or laterally respecting the snowshoe. It can, however, pivot with almost no resistance whatever by oscillatory movement of the rod IS in the several bearing sleeves 32, 33, 34, 35. Thus, a normal movement of the foot in walking is readily accommodated.

The forward portion of the boot or shoe of the user is held into the cage or pocket above described by an elastic safety strap 38 engaged at its ends in'buckles comprising the D rings 39 and slides 40, the D rings being connected to the basket or cage by links 4|, 42, 43 rigidly welded or otherwise connected between the D rings and the cage. As shown in Fig. 2, the end of the strap 38 is passed about the slide bar 40 and thence between the slide bar and the end of the D ring so that when once adjusted with the right tension to the wearers foot no further adjustment is necessary for applying or removing the snowshoes. Under tension of the strap, the end is firmly clamped in the buckle.

While the strap 38 may be of any desired material and may be rendered elastic through the use of springs, if desired, it is preferred to use a rubber strap. In any event, the strap passes about the wearersffoot "at approximately'the level of the shoe sole and is engaged "about the heel of the boot or shoe without engaging any portion of the boot or shoe where construction and restriction of blood circulation might result.

The tension of the strap 38 is exerted forwardly upon the boot or shoe to force 'thetoeportion thereof into the cage or pocket where, as above noted, the pressure is absorbed between the sole portion of the boot or shoe and the cage. Thus, while the boot or shoe is tightly and securely held to the snowshoe, 'this'result 'is achieved without any binding .efiect whatever across'the wearers foot.

An important "feature of the invention-lies in the "fact that the'boot or shoe maybe instantly disengaged from the'harness'bysimply exerting relative rearward jpressure uponthe elastic strap 38. In'the use of "conventional-snowshoe harness, serious "accidents 'sometimes result due to the permanent connection-'of'the wearers footwear to the snowshoe. With the safety harness of the presentinvent-ion,'-if the snowshoe catches on-a stub or other firm-objectwhich penetrates the mesh, "as the "foot is raised for the next step, *the elastic strap '38 yieldsupwardly and rearwardly, the-basket dropping downwardly from thetoe-of the boot, then automatically releasing the boot and allowing the 'wearer to walk-ahead free of the snowshoe. But'in the event of a fall, the release o'f=the-harness'-is easily effectedby simply stretching the elastic s'trapt. This avoids the difiiculties-experienced in the use of the conventional harness'where,-in the event of a fall, the wearer may be unable to reach and release .the harness and hemayj'not .be able to .rise -without releasing the harness. The release .of..the harness is easily effected by .simply stretching .the elastic strap 38.

To assist inattaining traction-on ice :and the like, .I prefer to :provide the :forward portion of the :cage .or basket with downwardly directed prongsat 4-5 which, when the heel of the wearers boot'zor shoe is normally resting .on :the snowshoe, willbe retracted above the level of the-snowshoe frame,xas indicated .in Fig. 2. It will be apparent, however,-:that as the wearer moves forward as in walking, the .tilting of his..foot Wil1 cause the cage of .the .harness to tilt .or .oscillate on the pintleirod 16 thereby forcibly urging the prongs 45 into or againstthe underlying surface. Thus excellent traction iszassured under-all conditions.

.I claim:

.1..A snowshoe harness comprising a boot receiving cage :havinga .transversepintle rod positioned to lie beneath the boot and a bearing sleeve mounted on-said rod andadapted for .connection Withthe snowshoe.

2. The device of claim .1 .in which said cage comprises meansrengaging the ends of the sleeve whereby to preclude axial displacement between thesleeve and rod. a

3. The device of claim 1 in 'Which the cage is provided forwardly of said rod with downwardly projecting traction prongs.

4. A snowshoe harness comprising the combination with a cage adapted to receive the .forward portions of .a'boot, of an elastic strap having its ends connected with'the cage and having an intermediate portion extending rearwardly therefrom to encircle a boot or shoe and to urge the same into the cage.

I 5. In a snowshoe harness, the combination with arcag'e adapted to receive a'bootcand comprising means conforming to the outline-of -the'forward portion of the sole of the boot to receive the forward thrust thereof, and means comprising a strap connected with opposite sides of the cage and extending thence rearwardly to engage a 'boothavingits toe portion in the cage, said strap .being substantially horizontal and substantially at'the heel 'level'whereby pressure of the strap upon the boot is transmitted through the sole portions of the boot to the cage tolocate the boot respecting the cage without any pressure on the boot upper or the wearers foot.

6. The device of claim S'inwhich'the'cage is providedwith a-mounting'uponwhich it is pivotable forwardly and rearwardly in a'vertical plane.

7. The device of claim "5 in whichthe cage is provided with amountin upon which it is pivotable forwardly and rearwardly in'a vertical plane, said cage having at, its forward portion downwardly directed prongs adapted in the pivotal movement ofthe cage to engage anunderlying surface.

8. The combination with a. snowshoe having a frame and webbing, the webbing ".being arranged in sections, two of whichare spaced to provide an opening, the rearward section adjacent said opening being provided with transverse means to which said Webbing is connected, at least one sleeve connected with said means, a cage including a pintlebar, said bar extending through said sleeve in pivotal connection through said sleeve with said means, and a strap device forholding a wearers boot with its .toe portion engaged insaid cage for pivotal movement respecting the snowshoe.

.9. The .device of claim8 in which the cage is provided forwardly of saidpintle'bar with downwardly directedprongs.

'10. The device of claim 8 in which the .strap device is elastic and under tensioninits engagement, with a wearers boot.

'11. In a snowshoe harness, the combination with a cage adapted to receive the .forepart of .a wearers boot, of a pair of buckles connected with the cage, each comprising a D ring and a .cross slide bar andua tension strap "having its ends engaged about said .cross slide bar and thence between said bar and the bi ing, said strap being elastic.

'12. In a snowshoe harness, the combination with a series of axiallyaligned sleeves, ofra cage comprising a pintle bar extending through the several sleeves, an. arcuate frame member disposed in substantially a vertical plane 'andconnecte'd at its ends with said bar and confining the ends of the series of sleeves against outward displacement, 9. generally horizontal arcuate frame memberfboot confining wires extending arcuately'between said frame members, and at least one boot supporting wire extending from. a'iorward portion of the horizontal arcuate frame member and an intermediate portion of said rod; being connected with said rod between the sleeves of said series, the rod and cage beingtunitarilypivotal in 'bearings provided by said sleeves.

EDWARD J. BALCOMB. 

